Badrinath Temple, Hindu temple in Chamoli district, India
Badrinath Temple is a Hindu shrine in Chamoli district of Uttarakhand state, India, located at 3,300 meters elevation along the Alaknanda River. The structure rises about 50 feet and features a gilded roof with a conical tower that crowns the main sanctum.
In the 9th century, Adi Shankara found a black stone figure in the Alaknanda and established a shrine here to revive the pilgrimage route. The site has undergone multiple renovations over the centuries, with later rulers from Garhwal making important contributions.
The name comes from the badri, a wild berry that once grew in the area; Edwin T. Atkinson noted in The Himalayan Gazetteer that dense badri forests existed here, though none remain. The Rawal, the head priest, is a Nambudiri Brahmin from Kerala, and the Mata Murti Ka Mela festival commemorates the Ganges' descent to earth.
The temple opens from late April to early November; outside this period the shrine is closed and the deity is moved to Pandukeshwar. The Tapt Kund springs stay at 55 °C while the air is usually below 17 °C, so bring warm clothing even in summer. The 294 km approach from Rishikesh is being upgraded by the Char Dham highway project.
The head priest, or Rawal, is a Nambudiri Brahmin from Kerala, chosen after consultation between the Garhwal and Travancore royal families. The temple's deities are all carved from black stone, and the sanctum also houses images of Kubera, Narada, Uddhava, Nara and Narayana.
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